connolly



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet l.

P. OONNOLLY. TANK FOR WATER GLOSETS.

No. 401,640. Patented Apr. 16, 1889.

iiOOOOOOiI N, FETER5. mamumu m nur, Washington. a. c.

3 Sheets Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

P. OONNOLLY. TANK FOR WATER GLOSETS.

PateIitedApr. 16, 1889",

III

N. PEIERS. mukumbgh her, wmirm. cu;

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

P.. UONNOLLY. V TANK FOR WATER ULOSET3.

No. 401,640. Patented A r; 16, 1889.

J0 av 29 I0 oooaoooo E] N. PETERS. Mum-Lithographer, Wnhlngten. 0v (2UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PATRTCK CONNOLLY, OF BROOKLYN, NETV YORK, ASSIGNOR TO MARTIN DEASE, OFSAh'IE PLACE.

TANK FOR WATER-CLOSETS.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent No. 401,640, dated. April16, 1889.

Application filed May 29, 1885. Serial No. 167,044. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, PATRICK CONNOLLY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Brooklyn, county of Kings, and State of New York, haveinvented certain new and us eful Improvements in Tanks forVVater-Closets, fully described and represented in the followingspecification and the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the same.

This invention relates to that class of cisterns or tanks which are usedin connection with water-closets to contain a supply of water forimmediate use in the closet.

The invention embraces various improvements in the valve and overflowapparatus, and also in the construction of the tank proper, all of whichwill be hereinafter fully explained, and particularly pointed out inconnection with the accompanying d rawing.., in which Figure 1 is a planView, and Fig. 2 a sectional elevation, of a tank or cistern embodyingthe present invention. Figs. 3 and i are similar views showingmodifications in certain details of the construction, which will behereinafter explained. Figs. 5 and 6 are similar views showing stillother modifications, which will also be hereinafter explained. Fig. 7 isan enlarged sectional elevation of the outletvalve and overflow-pipeshown in Figs. 1 to i. Fig. 8 is a section taken upon the linexa: ofFigs. 1. and 3, showing the adjustable sup port upon which the lever foroperating the outlet-valve is fulcrumed; and Fig. 9 is a crosssection ofsaid lever, taken upon the line .2 z of Figs. 3 and l. Fig. 1.0 is aplan view, upon a reduced scale, showing a modification in thearrangement of the lever for operating the outletvalve; and Fig. 11 is asectional elevation of the same, taken upon the line :0 of Fig. 10; andFig. 12 is a View illustrating a modified form of the float foroperating the inlet valve or cock.

Referring now particularly to Figs. 1 to 0, it will be seen that thetank illustrated in the present case is cylindrical in form and ofcomparatively small diameter, but is of sufficient depth to give it thenecessary capacity.

The tank may, if preferred, or if found more convenient, be made ofother form in crosssection. By making the tank of this form that is,deep and of small diameterit is pos sible to place it in a recess or ina corner of the room, so that it will occupy but very little space, andit is rendered so compact in form that even if it projects into the roomit will not present a particularly unsightly appearance. Anotheradvantage due to making the tank of small diameter and considerabledepth is that the height of the column of water is increased, andconsequently a greater pressure is obtained for the outlet. This tank iscomposed of an outer shell or casing, A, which is preferably made ofnarrow strips of wood jointed together like the staves of an ordinarybarrel or bucket, and held in position by means of two frames, B

'O, which receive the ends of the strips forming the shell A, the twoframes B 0 being held together by means of a suitable number oftie-rods, a, which are arranged in any suitable manner, but preferablyas shown in the drawings. The casing A may, however, be made of othermaterial, if desired.

The casing A is provided with a lining, D, of copper or other metalsuitable for the purpose, and with a bottom, E, which fits into theinterior of the casing A and rests upon a flange formed upon the frameO. This bottom E may be made of wood, as shown in Figs. 2 and 6, inwhich case it is also provid ed with a copper or other metal lining, c.The bottom E is provided with an opening, 10, having an ordinarycoupling, 11.,by which the tank can be connected to the outlet-pipeleading to the closet. A short distance above the bottom E the tank isprovided with a crosspartition, F, which is supported in any suitablemanner, preferably by brackets 9, as shown in Figs. 2 and (5, and iscovered both upon its upper and under sides with a sheeting, f,of copperor other suitable metal. The partition is provided at or near its centerwith an opening, 8, in which is located a valve-seat, 12, upon whichrests an upwardly-opening outlet-valve, 25, which is attached to thelower end of the overflow-pipe 26. The overflowpipe 26 extends upward toa point near the top of the tank, and is connected at its upper end by arod or chain, 27, to one end of a lever, 50, the opposite end of whichis provided with achain or rod, 31,which passes downward and isconnected with the seat of the closet, or a pullrod located at the sideof the seat in the usual manner.

The valve 25 may be of any suitable construction; butin the preferredform,as shown in Figs. 2, 4, and 7,it consists of a leather annulus, 7,which is arranged to rest upon the seat 12,.and is held in positionbetween a disk, (3, and a mass of lead, 13, which serves to give thenecessary weight to the valve, and is connected to a second disk, 5,which is attached to the lower end of the overflow-pipe 2b. The valvethus constructed is provided with a stem, 14, which passes through thedisks 5 6, and moves up and down in a guide, 4, formed in the center ofthe valveseat 12, and by which the valve is prevented from being movedlaterally off its seat. The disks 5 6 are provided with suitableopenings, as shown in Fig. 7 by which any water passing into the pipe 26is allowed to flow freely downward through the openings in the valveseat 12 into the chamber below the partition F. The upper end of theoverflow-pipe 26 is provided with a number of lateral openings, 3,through which the water will flow into the pipe when it has reached theproper height in the tank, and the top of this pipe is provided with ahood, 15, which extends downward below the openings 3, for a purposethat will hereinafter appear.

As shown in Figs. 1 to 4:, the inlet-pipe 32 is arranged to enter thetank at a point near its top, and is provided with the usualdownwardly-turned nozzle, 24, so as to deliver the water in suchdirection as to prevent it from spattering over the top of the tank. Asshown in Figs. 1 and 2, the nozzle 24 is provided with an ordinary cock,23, by which the flow of the water from the inlet-pipe can be shut offafter it has risen to a certain height in the tank. The cooks for thispurpose have usually been operated by means of a lever, one end of whichwas attached to the plug of the cock while the other end was providedwith a float which rested upon the surface of the water in the tank.Owing, however, to the small diameter of the tank shown in the presentcase it is impossible to provide a lever of sufficient.

length to properly operate the cock when the float is constructed andarranged in the manner just stated. To overcome this difficulty I makethe float of annular form and of such size that it will have thenecessary buoyancy to properly operate the cock.

In order to properly transmit the pressure of the water from the floatthus constructed to the plug of the cock, I so construct the plug thatits stem will extend beyond both ends of the shell, as shown in Fig. 1,and I provide the opposite ends of the stem with a pair of curvedlevers, 22, which bend outward and are pivotally connected to the floatat points diametrically opposite each other. By this means it willreadily be seen that a float is obtained which is capable of exerting avery great amount of power within a very small compass, and that it isso connected to the cock as to be perfectly balanced, and thus workfreely without any tendency to bind or become locked.

The operation of the apparatus just described is as follows: \Vhen thetank is empty, the float 33will drop, so as to open the cook 23 andpermit the water to flow into the tank through the pipe 32. As the waterrises in the tank, so as to reach the float, the latter will ride upwardupon the surface of the water, and as the water continues to rise willturn the cook 23, so as to gradually shut off the water until, when theproper height is reached, the water will be entirely shut off, and willremain shut off until its surface is lowered by the opening of theoutlet-valve 25. If for any reason the cook 23 should fail to operate,so as to shut off the water, it will continue to rise in the tank untilit reaches the openings 3 in the overflow-pipe 26, after which anywater'which enters the tank will flow through the overflow-pipe into thechamber below the partition F and thence to the closet, thus preventingthe overflowing of the tank. When it is desired to have the water flowto the closet, the lever 50 will be operated through the chain 31 so asto raise the valve 25, thus permitting the water to flow directly fromthe tank into the chamber beneath the partition F and thence to thecloset. As the water is thus drawn from the tank the float will fall, soas to open the cock 23 and permit the water to again flow into the tankuntil the proper level is restored. The opening in the valve-seat 12 isconsiderably larger in area than the outlet-opening 10, from which itresults that when the valve 25 is raised the water will flow downwardinto the chamber below the partition F faster than it can flow outthrough the opening 10, thus causing the chamber below the partition Fto be filled. When the chamber is thus filled with water, the air whichis in the chamber must, of course, find an escape, and it consequentlyrushes upward through the openings in the disks 5 6 into theoverflow-pipe and thence outward through the openings 3, and in rushingupward through the overflow-pipe in this manner it will have a tendencyto carry some of the water with it. The upper end of the overflow-pipeis therefore provided with the hood 15, so that any water which iscarried upward through the pipe in this manner will be directed downwardinto the tank.

and be prevented from being forced outward, so as to spatter over thetop of the tank.

It will readily be seen that modifications may be made in many of thedetails of the apparatus just described without departing from theessential features of the invention, and also that certain parts of theinvention may be used without the others. For example, instead of usingan ordinary cook, 23, for controlling the inlet-pipe 32, a valve may beemployed for this purpose, as illustrated in Figs. and l, and whether acook or valve is IIO used to control the inlet-pipe this pipe may passover the top of the tank, as shown in Figs. and 4, instead of enteringthrough its side, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

The valve illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4. is of an ordinary construction,consisting of a disk, 2, which is arranged to close against a seatformed in the pipe 32, and is provided with a stem, 16, which is actedupon by one arm of a bell-crank lever, 17, to the other arm of which areconnected the curved levers 22, which are acted upon by the float Whenthe inlet-pipe 32 passes over the top of the tank, it will be supportedin a suitable hearing, 18, secured to the annular frame B. The operationof the apparatus when thus constructed is the same as already described.The construction of the float 33 may also be different from that shownin Figs. 1 and 2 without departing from the invention. Instead of beingof annularforin it may be in the form of a disk, as shown in Fig. 12, orin some cases it may consist of two or more independent sphericalfloats, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. If the float is in the form of adisk, as shown in Fig. 12, it will be provided with a central opening ofsufflcient size to accommodate the overflow-pipe 26. The construction ofthe tank proper may also be somewhat modified. For example, the bottomE, instead of being flat or nearly flat, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, maybe of the form shown in Fig. 4 and arranged to project below the frameC. In this case the partition F may be arranged lower down than in theconstruction first described, as also shown in Fig. at.

In some cases, instead o attaching the outlet-valve 25 to theoverflow-pipe, as in the construction already described, an independentoverflow-pipe may be provided, which will be arranged in the usualmanner, and in such case the valve 25, either of the construction shownin Fig. 7 or of any similar suitable construction, will be connecteddirectly by a rod or chain to the end of the lever 30, as shown in Fig.12. In this case the float 33, if of the disk form, will of course beprovided with a suitable opening for the passage of the end of theoverflow-pipe.

The inletpipe 32, instead of entering the tank either over its top orthrough the side, as already described, may, if desired, enter thebottom of the tank and pass upward through the overflow-pipe, as shownin Figs. 5 and 6. In such case the pipe 32 is provided with one or morestops, l9, and the overflowpipe with corresponding stops, 20, arrangedto engage therewith, so as to prevent the latter pipe from being raisedso far that the valve 25 will not be guided back to its seat. In thiscase also the construction of the valve 25 and seat 12 is somewhatmodified, as will be observed, the valve being of conical form andarranged to fit into its seat, instead of being flat and arranged torest on the top of the seat. The inlet-pipe in this case, instead ofbeing provided with an ordinary cock or a valve of the constructionshown in Figs. 3 and 4, is provided with an upwardly-opening valve, 21,which is acted upon directly by the levers to which the floats 33 areattached, the levers being pivoted in bearings formed in the pipe 32.

As shown in the drawings, only two of the floats and levers 22 areemployed; butit is to be understood that the float may be of the annularform hereinbefore described or that more than two of the independentfloats may be provided, if desired. If the float is of the annular form,it will be connected to the levers 22 by an ordinary sliding connection.The operation of the apparatus when thus constructed is the same asalready described. \Vhen the exact situation in which the tank is to beplaced is known in advance of the construction of the tank, so that theexact position which itis desirable that the lever 50 shall occupy andalso the exact length of the lever can be known, the lever may be madeof a single bar, as shown in Figs. 10 and 11, and be fulcrumed in astandard, 28, permanently secured to the frame B. ltfreqnently happens,however, that the exact position which it will be necessary for thelever 50 to occupy and also its exact length cannot be determined inadvance of the placing of the tank in position. This is particularly thecase when the tanks are made and kept in stock to fill orders as theymay be received. It is therefore desirable that the lever 50 should beso mounted that it can be adjusted to different positions, so that thechain or rod 31 can pass down upon either side of the tank, and also sothat the length of the lever can be varied to suit the position in whichthe tank may be placed. To effect this the lever is made in two parts,29 30, the part 2%), which constitutes the short arm, being providedwith a recess formed in its side, into which fits the part 30, whichforms the long arm of the lever, as shown in Fig. 9. The part 30 isprovided with a number of openings made at different points along itslength, through any one of which the bolt 34, upon which the lever isfulcrumed in the standard 28, can beinserted. From this arrangement itwill be seen that by withdrawing the bolt 34: the arm 80 of the levercan be shifted, so as to adjust the lever to any desired length, afterwhich the bolt 34 can be reinserted through the proper hole in the arm30 and the leversecured in position. In order to permit the lever 50 tobe adjusted to dif-' ferent positions around the top of the tank,

the standard 28, in which it is fulcruincd,

secured to an annular plate, 35, which rests upon a series of arms, 36,extending inward from the frame B, and is held in position by two ormore buttons, 37, which are screwed to the arms 36 and rest upon theupper side of the plate 35, as shown in Fig. 8. From this constructionit'results that by loosening the buttons 37 the plate 35, carrying thestandard 28 and the lever 50, can be turned upon the arms 36, so as tocause the arm 30 of the lever to project in any desired direction.

From the foregoing it will be seen that a tank thus constructed is notonly very compact in form, but requires no extra casing or Woodworkaround it after it isin position. This makes the operation of putting upthe tank very simple, and also makes it possible to remove the tankbodilywhen repairs become necessary, without disturbing or injuring theroom'in which it is located.

\Vhat I claim is- 1. The combination, with the shell or casing A, havingthe metal lining D and the bottom E, of the frames 13 C, the former ofsaid frames being arranged to fit over the upper end of the casing A,and the latter to fit over the bottom end of said casing, and also tosupport the bottom E, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with the shell or casing A, having the metal liningD and the bottom E, of the frames B C, the former of said frames beingarranged to fit over the upper end of the casing A and the latter to fitover the bottom end of said casing, and also to support the bottom E,and the tie-rods a, for holding the frames B 0 together, substantiallyas described.

3. The combination, with the lever 50 and the standard 28, of theadjustable plate 35, whereby the position of the lever can be varied,substantially as described.

4. The combination, with the tank and the outlet-valve 25, located inthe tank, of the operating-lever 5O,fulcru1ned on top of the tank andhaving the adjustable arm 30, whereby the position of the chain or rod31 can be Varied, substantially as described.

5. The combination, with the outlet-valve 25, of the operating-levermade in two parts, 29 30, the standard 28, and the adjustable plate35,whereby the position of the lever and the length of its long arm canbe varied, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

PATRICK CONNOLLY. \Vitnesses:

J. A. HovEY, JAS. J. KENNEDY.

